98-365

Windows Server Administration

Fundamentals

Exam Design

The Basics
This exam is designed to assess candidates knowledge of fundamental Windows Server administration
concepts. MTA is a new certification under the Microsoft Certification Program that validates the
foundational knowledge needed to begin building a career in Microsoft technologies. It can also serve as
a stepping stone to the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist exams. Successful candidates for this
exam will earn an MTA certification as well as access to benefits of the Microsoft Certification Program.
The primary target audience for the MTA certification is students attending high schools and two-year
colleges.

Target Audience
Candidates for this exam are seeking to prove Windows Server administration knowledge and
skills. Before taking this exam, candidates should have a solid foundational knowledge of the topics
outlined in this preparation guide. It is recommended that candidates become familiar with the
concepts and the technologies described here by taking relevant training courses. Candidates are
expected to have some hands-on experience with Windows Server, Windows-based networking, Active
Directory, account management, and system recovery tools and concepts.

Objective Domain
1. Understanding Server Installation
1.1. Understand device drivers.
This objective may include but is not limited to: installation; removal; disabling;
update/upgrade; rollback; troubleshooting; Plug and Play (PnP); IRQ; interrupts; driver signing
1.2. Understand services.
This objective may include but is not limited to: what services are; which statuses a service can
be in; startup types; recovery options; delayed startup; Run As settings for a service; stopping
or pausing a service; service accounts, dependencies
1.3. Understand server installation options.

This objective may include but is not limited to: choosing correct OS version; partitioning; F8
options; server core vs. full; interactive install; unattended install; automated install using
Windows Deployment Service (WDS); upgrade vs. clean install; firmware updates including
BIOS
2. Understanding Server Roles
2.1. Identify application servers.
This objective may include but is not limited to: mail servers; database servers; collaboration
servers; monitoring servers; threat management
2.2. Understand Web services.
This objective may include but is not limited to: IIS, WWW, and FTP; separate worker
processes; adding components; sites; ports; SSL; certificates
2.3. Understand remote access.
This objective may include but is not limited to: remote assistance; remote administration
tools; Remote Desktop Services; licensing; RD Gateway; VPN; application virtualization;
multiple ports
2.4. Understand file and print services.
This objective may include but is not limited to: local printers; network printers; printer pools;
Web printing; Web management; driver deployment; file, folder, and share permissions vs.
rights; auditing; print job management
2.5. Understand server virtualization.
This objective may include but is not limited to: virtualization modes; VHDs; virtual memory;
virtual networks; snapshots and saved states; physical to virtual; virtual to physical
3. Understanding Active Directory
3.1. Understand accounts and groups.
This objective may include but is not limited to: domain accounts; local accounts; user profiles;
group types; group scopes; group nesting
3.2. Understand organizational units (OUs) and containers.
This objective may include but is not limited to: purpose of OUs; purpose of containers;
delegation; default
3.3. Understand Active Directory infrastructure.
This objective may include but is not limited to: domain controllers; forests; operation masters
roles; domain vs. workgroup; child domains; trusts; functional levels; namespace; sites;
replication
3.4. Understand group policy.
This objective may include but is not limited to: group policy processing; Group Policy
Management Console; computer policies; user policies; local policies
4. Understanding Storage
4.1. Identify storage technologies.

This objective may include but is not limited to: advantages and disadvantages of different
storage types; local (SATA, SCSI, IDE); NAS; SAN; fibre channel; iSCSI; NFS; FC HBA and FC
switches; iSCSI hardware
4.2. Understand RAID.
This objective may include but is not limited to: RAID 0, RAID 1, RAID 5, RAID 10 and
combinations; hardware and software RAID
4.3. Understand disk types.
This objective may include but is not limited to: basic disk; dynamic disk; mount points; file
systems; mounting a virtual hard disk; distributed file systems; optical disks
5. Understanding Server Performance Management
5.1. Identify major server hardware components.
This objective may include but is not limited to: memory; disk; processor; network; 32 and 64
bits; removable drives; graphic cards; cooling; power usage; ports
5.2. Understand performance monitoring.
This objective may include but is not limited to: methodology; procedures; creating a baseline;
perfmon; Resource Monitor; Task Manager; performance counters
5.3. Understand logs and alerts.
This objective may include but is not limited to: purpose of performance logs and alerts
6. Understanding Server Maintenance
6.1. Identify steps in the startup process.
This objective may include but is not limited to: BIOS; bootsector; bootloader; MBR; boot.ini;
bcdedit; POST; Safe Mode
6.2. Understand business continuity.
This objective may include but is not limited to: backup and restore; disaster recovery;
clustering; Active Directory restore; folder redirection; data redundancy; uninterruptible
power supply (UPS)
6.3. Understand updates.
This objective may include but is not limited to: software; driver; operating systems;
applications; Windows Update; Windows Server Update Services (WSUS)
6.4. Understand troubleshooting methodology.
This objective may include but is not limited to: processes; procedures; best practices;
systematic vs. specific approach; perfmon; Event Viewer; Resource Monitor; Information
Technology Infrastructure Library; central logging; event filtering; default logs